Restricted cash and cash equivalents

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]

Restricted cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consisted of the following:



	September 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
	($ in thousands)
Restricted cash securing collateralized reinsurance contracts written by the Catastrophe Reinsurer	$	101,348	$	93,014
Restricted cash securing credit facilities	160,618		100,563
	$	261,966	$	193,577

- Definition

The entire disclosure for cash and cash equivalent footnotes, which may include the types of deposits and money market instruments, applicable carrying amounts, restricted amounts and compensating balance arrangements. Cash and equivalents include: (1) currency on hand (2) demand deposits with banks or financial institutions (3) other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits (4) short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments maturing within three months from the date of acquisition qualify.

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